Reason#3: Why the COOK Islands Make the Perfect Winter Getaway!

Reason#3: The Cook Islands’ weather is topnotch year-round!

The Cook Islands are the same distance south of the equator as Hawai’i is north – and are often described as how Hawai’i was 60 years ago!

Year-round average temperatures are 26°C, or 79°F, and the same goes for our beautiful lagoons. Warmer months coincide with North American winters – perfect for snowbird escapes!

Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands, is a volcanic island with lush jungle interiors, and ringed by a beautiful lagoon and reef. Water and land activities abound here! From lagoon cruises, to stand-up paddle boarding, deep sea fishing charters, to turtle tours led by sea scooters: If you want to enjoy the lagoon here, you’ll find a way.

Land and cultural activities are also a must, no matter the time of year in Rarotonga. The mountains are perfect for self-guided hiking, or the famed Cross Island Trek. For the more thrill-seeking, quad and buggy tours will take you through the rugged back roads of Rarotonga. Those with a bug for culture and history should check out Highland Paradise, a cultural village on a sacred marae site which offers guided tours, dancing and drumming performances, and buffet dinner.

The second-most visited island in the Cook Islands is Aitutaki, or as Tony Wheeler (founder of Lonely Planet) called it, “the world’s most beautiful lagoon.”

Aitutaki is a lagoon atoll island, with a sliver of land hugging an expanse of turquoise blue lagoon. The most obvious of all activities are Aitutaki’s lagoon cruises, where one can spend 6+ hours floating from motu to motu (islets) and enjoy snorkeling, local string band music, fresh fish barbecue lunch, and a One Foot Island stamp in their passport. Other activities include island nights at local resorts, world-renowned bone fishing, kite-surfing, and cultural tours.

With warm weather year-round, no crowds in sight, and an easy, overnight flight from North America, it’s effortless to enjoy all the Cook Islands has to offer its visitors!